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Eat & DrinkEat & Drink Categories Bars & CafesHẻm Gems: Refreshing Chè at a 60-Year-Old Retro Hangout
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- Published on Friday, 10 February 2017 12:02
- Written by Khoi Pham. Photos by Brandon Coleman.
Relishing a bowl of assorted chè at Thach Che Hien Khanh is more than just an afternoon spent shooting the breeze with friends, it’s also a trip down memory lane and an exploration into Saigon’s heritage, all rolled into a few sweet treats.
Hẻm Gems: Nguyen Thuong Hien's Quaint Corner Juice Heaven
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- Published on Friday, 04 November 2016 11:58
- Written by Khoi Pham. Photos by Brandon Coleman.
In Saigon, when life gives you grapefruits, you create a thriving business to sell its juice to health-conscious locals.
Hẻm Gems: A Cuppa in Saigon's Oldest Cafe
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- Published on Friday, 30 September 2016 14:14
- Written by Dana Filek-Gibson. Photos by Brandon Coleman.
One of the first things Co Suong does when we sit down in the back of her tiny District 3 cafe is bring out the newspaper clippings.
Maison Marou: The House That Chocolate Built
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- Published on Tuesday, 14 June 2016 17:18
- Written by Brian Letwin. Photos by Lee Starnes.
Across from Ben Thanh Market sits a massive, open pit that will eventually serve as the base for a set of gleaming, modern towers housing the likes of a six-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel. But just beyond the cranes and construction site ambiance sits a modest, two-story art deco structure home to Marou, Faiseurs de Chocolat’s latest creation.
Hẻm Gems: An Old-School Saigon Cafe, Hiding in Plain Sight
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- Published on Friday, 11 December 2015 13:53
- Written by Dang Bui. Photos by Lee Starnes.
With an abundance of coffee shop chains and upscale, modern cafes in Saigon, there are very few left whose atmosphere and taste still manage to bring you back to the city's golden era. In fact, discovering such a place on one of District 1’s busiest streets is kind of like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Hẻm Gems: District 1's Delightfully Decrepit Bia Hơi
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- Published on Friday, 20 November 2015 11:54
- Written by Dana Filek-Gibson. Photos by Lee Starnes.
UPDATE: It is with heavy hearts that we inform our readers that the Thi Sach bia hơi has permanently closed. We will miss its regular crowd and grimy, beer-stained walls.
In a city that pretty much runs on beer, the ancient bia hơi on Thi Sach is a trip. Whether you turn up at the crack of dawn or in the thick of the evening rush, the pajama-clad ladies up front are always serving at least one grisly, middle-aged, red-faced Vietnamese man and the beer never seems to run out. On the wall, two paintings that have seen all manner of abuse – heat, water damage, dubious stains, mishandling – seem to barely cling to the wall, while the tiny mezzanine at the back looks like all it would take is one portly patron to send the whole thing to ground level.
Hẻm Gems: Chocolate Coconut Smoothies @ Le Thi Rieng Smoothies
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- Published on Friday, 07 August 2015 13:28
- Written by Nam Núm. Photos by Lee Starnes.
On a hot night of street food hunting, it was time for a pit stop, one that would not only satisfy our thirst, but also our sweet tooth.
Hẻm Gems: Legendary Coconut Milk @ Sữa Dừa 8 Tin
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- Published on Monday, 20 July 2015 13:30
- Written by Nam Núm. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
After a visit to Sữa Dừa 8 Tin, you’ll quickly find that not all coconut milk is created equal.
Craft Beer Makes Its Debut In Saigon: Pasteur Street Brewing
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- Published on Monday, 23 March 2015 11:20
- Written by Lee Starnes.
Nestled down a hẻm in District 1 are many a gem to be found by either stumbling upon them or through an awesome bit of advice from a friend. Whether it be your favorite bánh mì stand or a hidden coffee shop, the good stuff in Saigon often lives in the hems.
4 Great Places To Grab A Microbrew In Saigon
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- Published on Friday, 02 January 2015 11:20
- Written by Saigoneer.
As we eagerly await the opening of Pasteur Street Brewing Company (we’ll be posting an article on these guys in the near future) it may be easy to forget that Saigon already boasts a few microbreweries, all located in District 1.
[Photos] Awesome Tree House Cafe in Go Vap District
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- Published on Friday, 01 August 2014 11:00
- Written by Saigoneer.
Gò Vấp District is home to a pretty sweet tree house, by far the largest we’ve seen in Saigon. Even more impressive, the structure, which looks like something out of Robinson Crusoe, functions as a café.
